TRANSCRIPT:
Sexual exploitation, that’s the name of the game, folks. And in this episode of “A 9MIR Moment,” we’re going to look at the reasons why webcam sex chatting is sexually exploitative.
Okay, if you’ve been following this project for more than a couple of weeks, you’ve heard us and seen us hammering on the sexual exploitation point over and over again, until it’s an annoyance. Yet, we can’t actually emphasize that point enough, because there are still so many people out there who are confused by or are simply rejecting our conclusion that the pornography industry is sexually exploiting the girls and woman who are desperately and naively getting ensnared by the deceptive promises made by webcam sex chatting website and studio operators.
Now, we’ve already clearly defined what sexual exploitation is and why webcam sex chatting is sexual exploitation in the third installment of our blog series, Debunking the Myths, but let’s take a look at the definition here again, especially for those of you who haven’t read that series. According to a UN Secretary-General’s Bulletin, published in October 2013, “The term “sexual exploitation” means any actual or attempted abuse of a position of vulnerability, differential power, or trust, for sexual purposes, including, but not limited to, profiting monetarily, socially or politically from the sexual exploitation of another.”
In the case of Romania’s girls and women being sexually exploited by the pornography industry, we very clearly have the presence of a position of vulnerability. For one thing, Romania’s economy is surely not where it should be and the jobs that are available tend to be quite competitive. Yet, these girls and women still need to eat, pay the rent, or even pay for college. Vulnerability. For another thing, we’ve been informed by various Romanian team members, themselves Romanian women, that many of the girls and women being ensnared come from smaller villages and are desperate to make it in the big city, as they believe that doing so would solidify their success, thus satisfying a cultural or familial expectation of success. So, not only are they desperate to have a roof over their heads and food in their tummies, they’re desperate to fulfill expectations that have been involuntarily placed upon their shoulders. Say it with me now, vulnerability. And what about the number of single mothers who have been ensnared by webcam sex chatting? Could it be because they are desperate to provide for their children? So, they’re in a position of vulnerability as well.
So, we’ve established a position of vulnerability, but perhaps there’s no viable proof that there’s an attempted or actual abuse of this position of vulnerability for sexual purposes in order to profit monetarily. Hmm… webcam sex chatting… sexual purposes… I guess it speaks for itself. But surely, we’ll be disproven when it comes to profiting monetarily, since selling a girl’s or woman’s sexuality over and over and over again for a per-minute fee clearly has nothing to do with profiting monetarily.
“But Jared, what if they’re of legal age and they consented to it?” Excellent question!
According to the UN Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children, introduced in the year 2000:
“Trafficking in persons” shall mean the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harbouring or receipt of persons, by means of the threat or use of force or other forms of coercion, of abduction, of fraud, of deception, of the abuse of power or of a position of vulnerability or of the giving or receiving of payments or benefits to achieve the consent of a person having control over another person, for the purpose of exploitation. Exploitation shall include, at a minimum, the exploitation of the prostitution of others or other forms of sexual exploitation, forced labour or services, slavery or practices similar to slavery, servitude or the removal of organs… The consent of a victim of trafficking in persons to the intended exploitation set forth [above] shall be irrelevant where any of the means set forth [above] have been used.
In other words, when a girl’s or woman’s consent is gained by promising them money or other benefits, while they are in a position of vulnerability, human trafficking has been committed, and that consent holds no water. It is null and void. Moreover, if, while trafficking is occurring, that girl’s or woman’s sexuality is used for monetary gain, sexual exploitation has occurred.
The website and studio operators are deceptively kind to these girls and women, making them feel special and valued. But they are objectified, and viewed as nothing more than profitable sex objects. Consider this, websites take around 70% of everything earned. Then, additionally, the studio will take, roughly, a 50% cut. Leaving the girl or woman with the smallest portion of the earnings, even though she has done the most painstaking part of the so-called work, putting her emotional, psychological, and physical well-being on the line.
Although, it’s been a bit longer than usual, this has been “A 9MIR Moment” with Jared A. Snyder!
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